Having a Positive Attitude
"Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing." -James 1:2-4
In life, it is pretty safe to say that people don't tend to enjoy being around negative people. There is enough negativity out in the world, coming from the news, our workplaces, and perhaps even our own families. The reality is people enjoy being around people who help them feel better, to look at the positive side of a situation, and who have an "anything is possible" attitude.
The apostle James had this kind of perspective: "...consider it an opportunity for great joy..."
Of course, there are plenty of instances where being overly happy or joyful is not appropriate, such as the death of a loved one or a very trying situation. But, this does not mean we cannot be positive and at the same time empathize with someone's situation. When we're going through something hard, it's good to have godly, positive people around who understand.
Winston Churchill said, "Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference."
Do you need to have a more positive attitude? If you're not sure, ask the people around you if you need to be more positive. One person can either buoy up or drag down an entire team, depending on their attitude.
Related resource: Living Beyond Your Feelings: Controlling Emotions So They Don't Control You by Joyce Meyer
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